Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi Deputy Minister of Defense, met with the envoys to Yemen: the UN, Martin Griffiths and the American Timothy Lenderking, and Foreign Policy magazine said that the latter carries an urgent message from President Joe Biden.
The Saudi News Agency (SPA) stated that the meeting that took place yesterday, Wednesday, witnessed the discussion of developments in the situation in Yemen, the Kingdom's firm stance towards supporting the Yemeni people, and the efforts made to reach a comprehensive political solution and achieve security and stability in Yemen.
The Saudi Prince expressed the Kingdom’s appreciation for the stance of the international community and the United States of America in refusing to compromise the security of the Kingdom and standing in the face of the hostile practices of the Iranian-backed Houthi militia in targeting cities and civilians, and its continuing attacks on Marib Governorate and the rest of the Yemeni provinces.
The US embassy in Yemen revealed that the US envoy met in Riyadh the United Nations envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, to discuss ending the war.
The two sides discussed ways to end the war, strategies for implementing the ceasefire, and ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid to Yemenis.
In another context, the Saudi Press Agency reported that Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan discussed with Lenderking developments in the Yemeni arena, and the two sides also reviewed joint efforts to support ways to reach a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis.
For its part, the American Foreign Policy magazine said that the new US envoy went to Saudi Arabia to deliver an urgent message regarding the Biden administration’s endeavor to end the war in Yemen.
She said the envoy would explain to the Queen why the United States was cutting support for the Saudi-led coalition.
Upon assuming power in the White House, the Biden administration cut off intelligence support for the Saudi-led coalition and its operations inside Yemen, and indefinitely stopped the sale of precision-guided munitions to Riyadh worth up to $ 760 million, according to Defense News. .
The Wall Street Journal quoted US officials that encouraging the warring parties in Yemen to end the conflict would be the first task of the new envoy.
The officials also confirmed - according to the newspaper - that the decision by the Donald Trump administration to designate the Houthis as a terrorist organization will likely be canceled.
European draft resolution
In the context, Al-Jazeera obtained a copy of the European Parliament's draft resolution on Yemen, which will be voted on Thursday.
The draft resolution calls for the immediate withdrawal of all foreign forces from Yemen, and affirms that the crisis will only be resolved through Yemeni-led negotiations that include all components of the people.
It also condemns the ongoing violence in the country since 2015, which has caused the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.
The draft resolution stresses support for the efforts of the UN Special Envoy to Yemen to advance the political process.
The draft resolution called on the European Union to take firm measures towards the UN Security Council referring the situation in Yemen to the International Criminal Court, and expanding the list of those subject to Security Council sanctions.